EU single patent deal - but language question deferred (updated)

EU member states today signed an agreement in principle on establishing a single patent for the EU. But discussions over the language regime and a single court will continue next year

The deal came in response to proposals put forward by the
Swedish presidency, and takes advantages of new procedures
introduced by the Lisbon Treaty.

The agreement was reached at the meeting of
the EU Competitiveness Council on Friday. Sweden's minister for
trade Ewa Björling, who chaired the meeting, said she was
"proud" that the Council "has now sent a clear and unambiguous
signal to Europe's innovative companies that have long been
calling for an improved patent system".

But patent owners and IP advisers say they will postpone
celebrations until member states make more progress on the
details of the deal.

Welcoming the development, Ilias Konteas, a senior adviser
at BusinessEurope, said that it sent...